SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Junior Steve Buckley hit a bases-loaded single with one out to lift Western New England to a walk-off, come-from-behind 4-3 win in the first game, and then classmate Trevor Breton pitched a complete game as the Golden Bears earned a sweep of visiting Curry with a 2-1 victory in the second during a Commonwealth Coast Conference baseball doubleheader played at Pat Ricci Field at Trelease Park on Saturday. The Golden Bears improve to 10-14 overall and 6-4 in the CCC, while the Colonels dip to 6-19 and 1-11.
Buckley led the team with two hits as WNE outhit the Colonels 8-6 in the opener. For Curry, Philip Perez had two and Tanner Givens added a double.
Trailing 3-1 going into their last at-bats in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Golden Bears scored three times on one hit and two walks while taking advantage of two costly Curry errors. Pinch-hitter Doug Milne drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second base when freshman Kyle Maglio reached on a fielding error. Sophomore Scott Hubener followed with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher and then Kevin Marciano reached on a throwing error, scoring Milne from third and Maglio from second.
With the contest tied 3-3, Marciano--who had gone to second on the throwing error--advanced to third on a wild pitch. After two consecutive walks to load the bases, Buckley stepped up to the plate and delivered the game-winning hit through the left side to bring Marciano home.
Sophomore Tom Mahoney earned the win in relief, throwing a scoreless seventh. Senior starter Brendan Nugent pitched solidly through six innings, allowing five hits, three unearned runs and two walks. Nugent also struck out a WNE season-high 10 strikeouts to take over the conference lead with 47 over 34 innings for an impressive 12.44 per 9 innings.
The Colonels forged a 3-1 advantage in their half of the seventh, capitalizing on a couple Golden Bears miscues. Matt Warren capped the three-run frame with a single to center field to plate two teammates.
After the teams played four scoreless innings, WNE broke through for the first run in the fifth. With two outs, Hubener had a RBI-double as the center fielder made a diving stab at the sinking fly ball to bring home senior Taylor Searles, who had reached on a fielder's choice.
Breton struck out seven and walked two while scattering seven hits in going the distance, improving his record to 3-1.
Freshman Daniel Morin led the WNE offense with two hits in the nightcap, including a run-scoring single to right field that knotted the score at 1-1 in the fourth.
Western New England got the go-ahead run in the next inning as Steve Ambrosino was credited with a run batted in when he ground out to third base, bringing home Hubener. Hubener had led off with a single through the right side and eventually advanced to third on a stolen base.
Curry outhit WNE by a 7 to 5 margin led by John Arens and Derek Pizarro with two singles apiece.
The Colonels took a 1-0 lead in the third on a Warren single to center field. (Recap courtesy of WNEU Sports Information)
